- The "little Slav" encounters a unity founded on Ekitiké
Hugo Ekitike was beaming with satisfaction over his first trophy of the early season. The accolade for the finest player in Eintracht Frankfurt's relaxed 4:1 victory over second-division team Eintracht Braunschweig in the initial round of the DFB-Pokal was not the last honor he anticipated. "I aim to triumph in every match. I'm a competitive spirit. We aim to win and play attractive football," remarked Ekitike.
The brace in his debut competitive match has instilled self-assurance in Frankfurt's new striker hopeful. "We're venturing to Dortmund to emerge victorious," declared the 22-year-old striker, setting his sights on the league kickoff against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening.
Toppmoeller enthused by Ekitike's assist
Ekitike netted twice in the 4:1 victory in Braunschweig, but it was his exceptional outside-of-the-boot pass to opening goalscorer Farès Chaibi that genuinely left Eintracht coach Dino Toppmoeller impressed. "That's where his expertise lies. Serving the ball up like that with the outside of your foot, that's a top-level action," said Toppmoeller.
Toppmoeller admires the Frenchman, who flourished towards the end of last season following early challenges and scored four goals in the last five matches. "He demonstrated convincingly that he possesses top-caliber talent," said Toppmoeller. Quick, technically proficient, and erratic, if Ekitike stays fit, he could be among the elite strikers in the Bundesliga.
Starting with physical concerns
However, it was his health issues that made his initiation in Frankfurt challenging. The Eagles were taken aback by Ekitike's physical condition when he joined from Paris Saint-Germain on loan during winter. Yet, they also recognized his immense potential, which is why they signed him permanently for around 16.5 million euros.
Now, the Frenchman has to produce and appears to be on the right path. "If Hugo is fit and ready for 90 minutes, then he can truly assist us. He's been with us longer now, but he still has room for improvement," said Frankfurt's sporting director Timmo Hardung. "There's still space for improvement."
Coach provides striker with extra focus
Consequently, Toppmoeller is continually attempting to draw more from Ekitike. In the week preceding the cup game, the Eintracht coach had a heart-to-heart talk with the Frenchman regarding the new season. "It's also about rousing players and spurring them on. That was my purpose, as I become edgy when players have substantial talent but fail to exhibit it on the field."
Ekitike displayed his talent on the field in Braunschweig. "I'm operating at 100 percent and feeling good. That's what the preparations were for," said the striker with a grin, aware that he had taken a break recently. Ekitike is a "mischievous scoundrel," said Toppmoeller. But if he performs like he did in Braunschweig, they'll tolerate his antics at Eintracht.
Ekitike's impressive performance in the DFB-Pokal game against Eintracht Braunschweig wasn't limited to scoring goals. His assist for Farès Chaibi's opening goal, executed with an outside-of-the-boot pass, was also praised by coach Dino Toppmoeller, showcasing another aspect of his game that sets him apart.
Despite his impressive debut, Ekitike acknowledges there's still room for improvement. "There's still space for improvement," he said, with Frankfurt's sporting director Timmo Hardung echoing this sentiment, stressing the importance of Ekitike's fitness and consistency for the team's success.
